I have made the decision to compete in my 3rd and final Natural Fitness Competition September 6th, 2014. YIKES1

I am excited for the dicplined journey of healthy eatting, training hard and meeting a personal goal. This is not about standing on that stage for a brief 5 minutes after all the hard work and focus that goes into such an adventure. It is about the JOURNEY...THE DAILY....THE FOCUS.....THE DICIPLINE...SACRFICE....AND PERSONAL CHALLENGE. IT IS ABOUT BEING IN THE MOMENT AND BEING GRATEFUL FOR HEALTH AND LOVE....STRENGTH AND PASSION....A GOAL THAT SETS YOUR FUEL ON FIRE....it is a place where you truly stand alone in your decisions and choices you make every day....there is no fudge factor....just being 1% better everyday leading up to the show.

I will chat later and keep a posting of the journey....wow....If you are on this kind of journey or one that is challenging please feel free to share...I would like to encourage you to forge forward with FOCUS AND VISUALS TO KEEP YOU FIRE BURNING BRIGHT!!

Do you like to dance...Please sign up for April 2nd at my studio with Louis Van Amstel from Dancing With The Stars next week in Oceanside 9-5 pm. You ca sign up at www.LaBlast.com to secure your spot!! You will learn some basic moves that will get the 'Good living layers' off your hips and into your moves on the dance floor!!

Call me @ 760-419-4874 and if you love to dance but cannot make this workshop...PRETTY PLEASE POST THIS INFORMATION ON YOU FB PAGE TO GET THE WORD OUT.....I WOULD BE SOOOO GRATEFUL TO YOU!!

Here is a sneak peak into LaBlast, professional dancer and choreographer Louis van Amstel's new workout class!! LaBlast is an innovative partner-free dance fitness program designed to be an affordable alternative to private dance and/or workout lessons. Classes are a one-hour cardio dance fitness

Please Check out LaBlast Dance Fitness Certification being hosted at healingcrown2toe.com fitness studio. April 2nd is when the fun begins with a fantastic workshop with our very own Louis Van Amstel from 'Dancing With The Stars'.........ca...See More

If we aren’t careful, we may begin to rely on emotional eating to soothe bad feeling. If it becomes a habit, emotional eating can lead to weight gain or prevent weight loss, if you are not aware of it. That said, don’t despair—there are ways to stop emotional eating and prevent it from sabotaging your results for good. Here are four ways:

Recognize The Signs

Emotional eating can be triggered by stress, anger, sadness, anxiety or even boredom. One of the biggest culprits is stress. Stress causes an increase in cortisol, which can impede your body from processingcarbohydrates and can also increase cravings for sugary foods. It can also be brought on by changes in hormone levels, such as during PMS.

A sure-fire sign of emotional eating is when you reach for food even though you are not physically hungry. If you are regularly eating with less than three hours between meals, consider whether your “hunger” is real or a result of feelings that you are grappling with or where you are in your monthly cycle.

Tip – Use a Food Journal. Start evaluating and assessing your hunger. Use a food journal to capture where, when and what you eat and how you are feeling. Notice if there are any patterns. Are you physically hungry, low in energy or mindlessly reaching for food? Do you feel guilty after you eat? Are you craving anything specific: sugary, salty, crunchy or creamy? By tracking your behaviors, you will quickly be able to identify what is triggering emotional eating and squash it with a healthy alternative or more productive coping strategy.

Tip – Switch it Up. Craving something crunchy and salty? Instead of reaching for a bag of chips, try a tablespoon of your favorite nut butteron a few celery sticks! Craving something sweet and creamy? Instead of ice cream, try a serving of non-fat, zero calorie Greek yogurtcombined with a few of your favorite berries, a packet of Stevia and a teaspoon of vanilla! Craving chocolate or candy, try a piece of fruit!

Workout and Meditate

Once you recognize that you are emotional eating, the next step it to replace that habit with a new healthier one that can change your mindsetand your focus. By far, the best way to combat emotional eating is to head to the gym! Working out reduces stress by releasing feel good endorphins that actually decrease hunger and boost energy—not to mention burn calories.

Another way to shift your focus from food is to try meditation and simple breathing techniques. Breathing exercises can slow down your heart rate, relax the mind and take your focus off of food.

Tip – Stick to a Schedule. A great way to keep your mind calm and your emotions under control is to have a clear and defined schedule and a set of goals. Schedule workouts, yoga and even a little meditation and downtime for you.

Stop Depriving Yourself

Many fitness-minded individuals might be considered chronic dieters—following strict clean diets during competition or bikini season and then rewarding themselves with huge cheat meals because of “good behavior.” These cheats can lead to guilt, which leads to more emotional eating. In addition, dieting can deprive a person of their favorite foods. So, when one hits an emotional wall, they are more likely to just give in and binge on the things they have been craving the most.

Tip – Incorporate Foods You Love. Fill your diet with healthy foodsyou enjoy eating and also incorporate treats into your diet more regularly in small portions. Making a food off-limits completely can oftentimes just make it something you can’t stop thinking about and eventually indulge in when the going gets tough. That said, I don’t recommend keepingtreats in your house, in case of a moment of weakness. Rather, buy portions on an as needed basis or go out and enjoy them.

Tip – Try a New Reward. Instead of getting into the routine of rewarding yourself with food, start rewarding yourself with other treats, like a trip to the spa, a new workout top or a new pair of shoes. Other ways to reward yourself: try a different workout from your regular routine or a different activity like indoor rock climbing. It can be fun, take your mind off of food and stimulate your muscles and your mind in a completely different manner.

Manage Emotional Eating

Be sure your diet is in check. Often, we crave foods as a result of deficiencies in our diet. If carbohydrates are too low, energy and blood sugar levels will dip, along with serotonin levels. This will cause emotions to be unstable and cravings to soar sky high—a dangerous combination for someone seeking to avoid emotional eating.

Also, make sure you get plenty of protein, at least 1 gram per pound of bodyweight. This satiating food can reduce hunger between meals and help keep blood sugar balanced. And, be sure to eat every three hours or so, which will sustain blood glucose and help keep your metabolism moving along!

Tip – Convenient Healthy Options. Have healthy snacks available that are ready to grab at anytime, such as non-fat Greek yogurt, fruit, nuts, whole-grain rice cakes or even pre-made protein pancakes! When there is something healthy and tasty available, you are less likely to go out of your way to get something sugary and fatty.

Happy New Year to YOU! I THINK EVERYDAY IS A 'NEW YEAR TO MAKE ANY CHANGE FOR YOUR HEALTH'!
I am going to be posting a few reminders to perhaps think about as we gather our discipline, resources, reminders and success around a REASONABLE 1% BETTER EVERYDAY for 2014 Goal List!

healingcrow2toe.com is here for you! The first item is not in a priority order...it is just a suggestion to perhaps think...See More

Happy New Year to YOU! I THINK EVERYDAY IS A 'NEW YEAR TO MAKE ANY CHANGE FOR YOUR HEALTH'!
I am going to be posting a few reminders to perhaps think about as we gather our discipline, resources, reminders and success around a REASONABLE 1% BETTER EVERYDAY for 2014 Goal List!

healingcrow2toe.com is here for you! The first item is not in a priority order...it is just a suggestion to perhaps think...See More

Cindy Whitmarsh's UFIT Ultra Tight

8 Foods We Eat In The U.S. That Are Banned In Other Countries

This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “food poisoning.” Original list found in Dr. Jayson Calton and certified nutritionist Mira Calton’s new book, Rich Food, Poor Food.posted on June 19, 2013 at 6:30pm EDT

Why it’s dangerous: Artificial dyes are made from chemicals derived from petroleum, which is also used to make gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt, and tar! Artificial dyes have been linked to brain cancer, nerve-cell deterioration, and hyperactivity in children, just to name a few.

3. Brominated vegetable oil: Makes food dye stick to liquid, but also may cause birth defects and major organ damage.

Why it’s dangerous: Bromine is a chemical used to stop carpets from catching on fire, so you can see why drinking it may not be the best idea. BVO is linked to major organ system damage, birth defects, growth problems, schizophrenia, and hearing loss.

Why it’s dangerous: Derived from the same harmful chemical as brominated vegetable oil, brominated flour is used to decrease baking time and reduce costs. Only problem is, it’s linked to kidney damage, cancer, and nervous system damage.

8. Arsenic: Basically this ish will slowly kill you.

Why it’s dangerous: Used in some chicken feed to make meat appear pinker and fresher, arsenic is poison, which will kill you if you ingest enough.

Where it’s banned: The EU.

CORRECTION: Some studies linked in the original version of this article were concerning unrelated issues. They have been replaced with information directly from the book Rich Food, Poor Food (6/22/12).

“To like many people spontaneously and without effort is perhaps the greatest of all sources of personal happiness."- Bertrand Russell

Blue Skies to you....my name is Kathy Babcock I have been in the fitness industry for over 25 years....wow....I am old....which brings me to my next thought...We can Feel, Fantastic, Fit, Fulfilled, and Free at any age.....So here goes 50+ for me and my new decade where I will continue to strive to live by the idea we truly can Feel Fantastic, Fit, Fulfilled and Free at any age if we take small steps consistently to treat our bodies like a temple and remember that it is the only place we have to live in....why not REALLY LIVE! If I can motivate any of my Corporate Groups, Private Pilates Clients, Women's Groups and Youth Groups to Value their 'Wellness', Love Others with an open heart, See their Worth and to 'REFUSE TO LIVE AN UN-LIVED LIFE'. I believe that if I can leave a client, group or loved one 'BETTER THAN I FIND THEM'....then my work is done! 'Health and Love...Jewels of Life' ...
I would like to invite you to see my KUSI SAN DIEGO NEWS FITNESS SPOT EVERY WEDNESDAY @ 9:AM GOOD MORNING SHOW WITH CINDY WHITMARSH TO GET YOUR WEEK STARTED AND ENDING WITH A GREAT MOOD AND A NEW WAY TO FIND ENERGY, HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN YOUR LIFE!! COME ON....YOU SAID TODAY I WILL BEGIN MY FITNESS DEPOSIT YESTERDAY? YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!!